From political climate to pressure from business stakeholders, there are many opinions that need to be heard and demands met in order to create a user interface and user experience that works. 

UI/UX design trends show us that, as design thinking gets more user-centric, people are growing to expect experiences that are seamless, intuitive, and respectful of their time. 

A lot will change and mature this year in terms of the design process and user expectations. Keep reading to learn about some factors that are likely to influence and shape the new UI/UX projects or upgrades you work on this year.

How technology, teams, and user expectations are shaping UI/UX design 

1. The need for transparency amidst fake news

“Fake news”. While this phrase initially evoked feelings of shock and outrage, the concept that a lot of what we read online is fake and manipulative has been successfully absorbed by audiences across the globe, who have become both weary and wary of it. 

That’s why earning and maintaining trust has become very important to businesses today. To avoid being seen as untrustworthy, brands must take care to be clear, accurate, and reliable across everything they publish—starting with their company websites. 

Being clear, accurate, and reliable begins with the information offered and extends to the way it is presented on your website, including flow, information hierarchy, and functionality. It also includes branding, i.e., voice, tone, color palette, fonts, logo, and more; these must be consistent across pages and platforms.

Good UI/UX design can build confidence in your brand. Read more.

Tip: Show your website audience what makes you trustworthy
Offer information on what actions you’re taking to be a brand they can trust. Do you have policies, products, awards/recognitions, or processes that make you a trustworthy brand? Guide users to them through your UI/UX design!

2. The GDPR and regulatory compliance

No matter where you are in the world, your organization must have experienced the effects of the GDPR and other forms of data regulation in recent years. Cookie pop-ups and the restriction of web/app features in certain regions are commonplace now. 

This ties into transparency again, and people needing to know how their personal data is being used. Companies now have to offer a clear way for users to visualize where their information goes and how it is kept safe.  

As we improve data security, we will also have to improve the online security experience. Strong UI/UX design will help organizations deliver this to their end-user.

3. Deleted features

Exciting new features are often associated with the release of a new and improved product. This year, however, we are likely to see things go the other way as users demand products that serve them more efficiently and seamlessly. 

Leading brands are realizing this, and it would be beneficial for your company to do so as well. Think about the problems you are trying to solve and keep those in clear focus; good design can be impressive without the clutter.

Additionally, as mobile-first design grows in popularity, being selective with features will help deliver a smoother user experience.

4. Design tools that improve collaboration (and possibly consensus)

Increasingly, product teams are realizing the benefits of early collaboration between UI/UX designers and developers. When they work together, issues can be spotted and resolved early on, which makes for a better design and process. 

Collaboration becomes particularly important as user demands grow and become more diverse. Popular design tools are, increasingly, supporting real-time collaboration for greater efficiency, helpful inputs, and a stronger product. 

Tip: Improve communication to collaborate successfully
Even with the best tools, good communication is essential for a team to work together well—especially with remote and flex work. Here are some tips on effective communication for remote teams.

5. AI for designers

How we design interfaces is changing with developments in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Because these technologies allow us to analyze user data more efficiently, they can help us optimize and personalize interfaces to deliver more engaging experiences.

AI-powered UI/UX design tools can also take care of many time-consuming tasks such as implementing site-wide changes and pinpointing compliance risks. This means designers can look forward to being more freed up for creative, innovative work going forward. 

Will this lead to some ground-breaking solutions from UI/UX designers this year? We’ll have to wait and watch!

Prepare your team for changing UI/UX design trends 

These 5 factors are changing how users, designers, and stakeholders think, and what they expect. As a design-first approach becomes more widely accepted, companies will have to delve deeper into the various components of their process and see how to make them work better. 

Above all, teams and stakeholders will have to get on the same page regarding the final vision for their products and zero in on what matters to them. For example, is your goal to delight the user with new, innovative features, or to simplify their experience for greater ease of use and functionality? 

Open discussions with your team will help you develop a clear vision for your product, which will ultimately help your UI/UX design team deliver a high-quality, high-ROI product. Don’t forget to add the 5 factors above to your meeting agenda!

Want your app or website to deliver memorable experiences?
Our UI/UX experts help you optimize your user experience, increase and retain users, and transform digital touchpoints on apps and portals. Let’s talk!